ETAT+ is presented using interactive education models intended to promote improved clinical care of paediatric patients in line with the current best practices in the clinical guidelines. ETAT+ is not a seminar and per diem compensation is not offered.

The participants are actively involved in all portions of the class with input during the interactive lecture sessions and hands on skill stations.

The hospital Paediatrician must be an advocate for the course and is expected to be involved in the planning, delivery and implementation of a course. The success of a course hinges on their enthusiastic involvement with hospital staff and administration.

Pre-course preparation for participants

Course materials to read are sent to the participants at least 4 weeks before the beginning of the course to allow preparation. These include :

The WHO Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Paediatric patients

The ETAT+ Participant Manual. This manual includes questions to be completed by each participant at the end of each section before the course.

There is also a pre-course MCQ to be completed and turned in for marking at the beginning of the course.

Venue selection

The course is preferably taught at or near the hospital campus to allow inspections of the facility on day 4 of the course.

Space/rooms required

The required venue includes a room for plenary sessions to seat 40 persons. This room should be capable of being darkened for the PowerPoint presentations which include short video clips to demonstrate specific training points.

Additionally, a total of 4 rooms able to seat 10 people each are needed to accommodate the breakout sessions which comprise most of the course and include skills training and practice and scenario practice using manikins and the basic needed resuscitation equipment. The room utiilised for the plenary session can serve for one of the breakout groups.

Equipment needed

A backup electrical generator is desirable for power outages.An LCD and laptop computer are needed for the presentations as well as desktop computer speakers. Training equipment needed for the course is maintained by Kenya Paediatric Association and includes what is needed for conducting a course.Printing capabilities at the host institution are expected for materials found to be needed during a course.An inspection of the paediatric facilities of a hospital is done during a course and a meeting conducted at the end of the inspection with hospital administration present. The discussion then proceeds around what is done well in the hospital and an action plan made to deal with any identified challenges to patient care. An audit is performed of patient care files to see how closely the clinical protocols are followed.

Participants’ Requirements

ETAT+ trains 32 participants for the five day course.The personnel trained should represent the paediatric services in the hospital. It is directed at the paediatric casualty, nursery and labour ward, paediatric ward and nutrition services. Nurses, Clinical Officers and Medical Officers should be included. The course is intended to train a critical mass of health care providers in the facililty to facilitate implementing ETAT+ principles.Participant to instructor ratio should not exceed 8:1 and usually 5 full instructors are present to allow the ability to meet other needs that may arise.Participants may include administrators but clinical providers must be a healthy portion of the class structure.Participants must not have clinical responsibility during the course and no night duty the night before the course begins or during the course. It is required that all participants are there for the entire course.Tardiness is not allowed and phones are to be switched off. Supportive services staff are encouraged to attend relevant plenary sessions and these should include pharmacy, medical records, nutritional services, laboratory and social services.

Course Closure

On the final day of ETAT+ a summative assessment is individually performed using an MCQ and a practical exam.Successful completion of the course requires passing both examinations. A certificate is issued to all participants for either successful completion or attendance.The faculty selects the participants who have done particularly well in the course in demonstrating knowledge, skills and leadership and have done well in assessment to be nominated to participate in an ETAT+ training of Trainer's Course.After the course is completed periodic inspections are done of the hospital to assist in maintaining high standards of paediatric care.